Vending machine



Nov. 12; 1935. EGEL 2,020,893

VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4' '43 v so g :4 52

45 J 73/ a v I Nov. 12, 1935. L, KE EL 2,020,893

VENDING MACHINE Filed Novf2, 1 953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 12, 1935. KEGEL VENDING MACHINE 4 Filed Nov. 2, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 12, 1935. KEGEL VENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FaIg. 11

fig. 13

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 warren STATES PATENT OFFE CE 2,020,893 VENDING MACHINE Ludwig Kegel, Neustadt (Schwarzwald) Germany Application November 2, 1933, Serial No. 696,435 In Germany November 5, 1932 15 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines, and has special reference to a machine for vending articles of various sizes and shapes and at various prices.

5 Most vending machines are designed to vend articles of regular size and shape or to vend a given quantity of small articles such as nuts or confectionery and, in such machines, it is usual to have a storage compartment or magazine in "t which all of the commodity to be sold is held.

I One important object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of vending machine, wherein each aticle or package to be sold is held in an individual compartment, access to 15 the several compartments being selectively obtainable.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of vending machine having a series of compartments each normally held 20 against opening by an individual latching mechanism.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel means for preventing the opening of more than one compartment at a time, the

25 means being so arranged that the operation of one compartment latching mechanism to unlatch a compartment prevents operation of the remaining latching mechanisms.

A fourth important object of the invention is 30 to provide a novel arrangement of compartment latching mechanisms wherein accidental relatching of a compartment after the same has been unlatched is prevented.

A fifth important object of the invention is to v 35 provide a single coin control of novel character common to all of said latching mechanisms.

It is common in vending machines to so construct such machines that they are permanently set to work with the deposit of a definite amount in coins, either by a single coin of definite value or by a plurality of coins, the sum of the values of which amounts to a definite value.

A sixth important object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of coin control device for such machines which may be set to operate by the insertion of one or more coins within the sales value capacity of the machine. Thus, if the maximum sales value capacity of the ma- 50 chine is twenty-five cents, the machine may be set to operate by the insertion of from one to five five-cent pieces, according to the value of the article being sold. Aseventh important object of the invention 55 is to provide a novel setting mechanism forthe coin control including a series of interchangeable setting bars.

It is desirable in such machines that for the purposes of changing the commodities, filling and replenishing the machine with commodities, the compartments for the goods sold may be opened by an attendant without the deposit of coins.

An eighth important object of the invention is to provide a novel releasing device for the coin control of the machine whereby opening of the money receiving compartment or drawer will efiect release of the coin control in such manner that the commodity compartments may be successiveli opened.

A ninth important object of the invention is to 16 provide novel means of assembly and disassembly of the machine wherein closing and opening of the money drawer or compartment controls the disassembly of the machine.

. With the foregoing and other objects in view, 20 the inventionconsists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

'In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation, partly in diametric section, of one form of machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a partial plan view thereof with certain parts broken away to show a certain latch beneath the broken parts;

Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged detail section on the line 3- 3 of Figs. 2 and 4;

Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with certain of the lower parts in elevation;

Figure 5 illustrates a detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 illustrates a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 illustrates a detail section on the 11ne l--l of Fig. 3;

Figure 11 illustrates an assembly view of a set f of setting bars used herein;

Figure 12 illustrates a front elevation of a modified form of the machine; and

Figure 13 illustrates an end elevation of the V modified form.

In theform of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to ll, there is provided a base plate IQ having an upwardly projecting and centrally disposed boss I l provided with a central aperture l2. Revolubly fitted in the boss ii is a stubshaft i3 which isfixed centrally to the underside of the bottom plate M of the main casing of under surface of this rib is formed an annular groove i'ikiprefe'rably of V-shape, and bearing balls 26 :rest on the surface I7 and are held in.

thegroove' I9. A flange 2| depends peripherally from the plate M' and to this flange is secured, by

welding o'r othe'r suitable means, the lower part of a. money drawer housing 22 having an opening 23 at oneside thereof. A money drawer 24 'hav- 1 ing a curved coin holder 25 ismounted on the plate M to slidein and out through the opening 2-3. A dr'aw'er pul126 'iscarrie'd on the front of this drawer to enable it to be pulled outwhen desired and the drawer. is normally locked by an ordinary lock schematically shown'at '27. A stop 28 is screwed up through the'plate hand, when the drawer is pulled outg is engaged by the lower part of the back wall of the drawer so as to limit outward movement of said drawer.

The upper end of the drawer housing is :provided with an outwardly extending flange 29 whereon rests a reinforcing angle 39 suitably secured to the casing 22. On the angle 351s secured a cooler "casing for containing ice or other cooling medium and this'casing is of annular formation having affrusto-conic'al inner wall 3! bottom andouter wall 32. The upper edge of the ,wall '31 isprovided with an inwardly extending fiange 33 from the inner edge-of which depends the side wall 35' of the lower section of a mechanism housing. A bottom 35 closes the lower end 7 of this lower section. The cooler compartment is closed on top by ananhularplate 3% which is coterminous at its inner edge with the wall 5d,

thus resting on the flange 33'to whi'chiit is suitably secured. The outer edge of the wall 32 is provided withan outwardly extending flange 3? around which the outer part of the plate 3% is bent to hold said plate 355 in position. Obviously,

suitable means of access .to the cooler compartment will be provided, but it is not {deemed necessary here to' show such means; "Resting on the inner peripheral portion o-fthe plate 355 is a series of arcuate spacerstrips 38. Alined withthe side wall 34 of the lower mechanism housing is. the sidewall. 39 of an upper mechanism housing'and .this side wall 39 has an "outwardly extending,-

flange 48 at its lower-end, which fiangezrests on the' spacers 38 and is secured thereto by screws 4i. The upper -housing'is closed 'at itsltopby a cover 42. V

, framering 60. and an outwardly extending and upwardly'curved threaded ends. 'Resting'on the bodieso'f the post 5 periphery of'the 'cover ii and a The mechanism housing is preferably cylindrical in form and extending radially from tins housing is a series of vertical partitions 33 which have their bottom edges resting on the plate 3%. Guides are secured to the plate 3t in pairs to receive the lower edge portions of the plates 43 and hold them properly spaced. Similar pairs of guides 45 are mounted on the wall 39 and receive the inner edges of the platesA-Ii between them to hold these plates invertical positions. 1 These partitions thus form. a series of segmental compartments and a cover plate it of annular form. rests on top of these partitions to constitute a top for the compartments. Preferably this cover plate is, like thepartitions, of glass. The upper 1 housing projects above the cover plate ir: and fitted on this housing-is an annular keeper band 4? having an outwardly extending flange 43 on its lower-edge which engages over the cover plate and holds it in position. The band 4}, interme 2 diate its upper andlower edgesxis providedfifiith an=annular bead'fit forming a. channel conf'rhntingthe mechanism housing. Ineach ofthe com partments is slidably mounted a drawer having ja bottom 58 and-afront wall-51 which,'when'the -2 7 drawer is pushed in, closes the outer end of' th'e respective compartment.

A drawer pull 52 is provided on each wall'5i to enable readyina nipw' 'lation of the drawer. The inner end of each bottom 59 is providedwith an inwardly*eiitend- 3 ing 'toingue 53 which passes 'into'the mechanism housing between adjacent spacerseii and this tongue is provided with an openingcr eye 54" normally located within the mechanism housing.

I Within the "housing is a frame which supports the coin controlled mechanism and the parts 'associated therewith. frame consists of a frame base 55whic'h rests-on 'the'hou'sing bottom" 35 and isprovid'ed'with a plurality of opemngsti's adfa'cehtits periphery. The openings 56 receive the lower reduced ends of lower post sections "51 and screwssa, having heads 'of greater diameter than the openings '56, are "screwed up through 1 these openingsto 'holdthepbsts'in position. The

1'lOfiSi'ng'b0ttOin 35 lSprOVidd with Suitable openf ings to allow'pro'jection of "the screwheadsth'ere through; The upperend's 'ofthe po'sts iil are reduced and fitint'o opeiii'ngs' 'fifi infa'n annular lower -I1'it mediate sections 6i are provided with reduced screw thre'a'de'd ends '62 and the lower s'erew nneauea ends ass through the openings 59 into theupper ends of the lower post sections 51, these beingIproVid'e'd with screw-threaded axialfbores to receive such sections BI is an upper a'nnular nam angse provided with openings F64 wherethrough pass the upper screw-threaded ends '62. Upper postsec -tion's 65 have their lowerends boredandthreaded toscrew onto the mipper'ends'tland theupper 6 endsof these-sections E'Jarereduoed to fit-in openings 66in a frame top 'plate B! where they are heldb y screws 68. By thismeans the entire frame is rigidly held together while, when necessary,

.theparts' may be readily assembled anddisas 6 semb1ed.-

ing; However, byu'ns'crewing therscrew's 41, the? upper housing section may be liftedffrom the lower and theframe, withall parts earnestnes by, lifted out of the lower housing se'ctijon.

A 'series'of openingses are formed adjacentthe second series of] openings 10 are formed in the plate 61 in alinement with the openings 69. The centers of the openings 69 and i6 lie in the vertical median planes extending radially through the compartments. Thus there is an opening 69 and an opening 79 for each compartment. For each compartment there is a drawer releasing plunger which consists of an upper section H and a lower section having a body 72 slidably mounted in a respective set of the openings 69' and It. The upper section H has a push button 2'3 on its top end and a threaded extension M on its bottom end, this threaded extension being screwed into the body 12 to unite the two sections. By this arrangement the lower section may be pushed up through the openings i0 and 69 and the upper section be then screwed on the lower to assemble the parts. An extension 15 is formed integral with the body l2 and is in the form of a flat bar extending downwardly from the lower end of the body 12 and offset outwardly in a direction radial of the mechanism housing. The lower end of this extension is rabbeted on its outer corner to form a tail 5% which is received in a radial slot Tl formed in the upper frame ring. For each of these extensions, which may be termed presser bars, there is provided a coiled tension spring 78 which has its lower end engaged on a pin 19 fixed in the presser bar and its upper end engaged on a pin 83 extending radially from the plate 61. Thus the plungers are constantly urged to raised positions. Each tail i9 is provided with a laterally extending lug 8| which lies below the frame ring 63 and engages with the under side of said ring and forms a limit stop to limit the lift of the plunger under the influence of the spring 78. Slots 82 are formed in the lower frame ring 69 alined below the slots H and in the frame bottom 55 are slots 83 which are in vertical alinement with the slots 82. In each set of slots 82 and 93 is mounted a latch bar. This latch bar has an upper end 34 mounted in the slot 82 and a lower end 85 mounted in the slot 83. The lower part of the upper end 94 is enlarged to form shoulders 86 which form limit stops preventing this latch bar from rising beyond a certain limit and from this enlarged portion the bar extends downwardly and inwardly to provide an inclined cam edge 81 on its outer edge. The lower end of the inclined portion extends forwardly to the upper end of the portion 85. Projecting outwardly from the upper part of the portion 85 is a latch lug B8 having abeveled edge 89. For each of the latch bars there is provided a coiled tension spring 951 which has its lower end engaged on a pin 9! projecting from the latch bar and its upper end engaged on a pin 92 projecting inwardly from the lower frame ring 69. Thus the latch bar is normally held raised and, when in this raised position, the nose of the latch lug 88 enters the opening 54 from below. It is to be noted that the lower end of the tail l9 of the presser bar is vertically spaced above the top of the latch bar and that the lateral lug 8 i, besides forming a stop, has the further function of broadening the contact area whereagainst the latch bar may engage when the presser bar is pushed down. This part of the appartus, including the plunger and latch bar, forms the means for holding the drawers from opening movement and it will presently be seen that the plunger is coin controlled so that it cannot be effectively operated until released by the deposit of the proper coins. However, for the purpose of explaining the operation of this part of the device, it may now be assumed that the plungers are free sion of the plunger depresses thelatchbarandthe 5 nose of the latch lug is first moved downwardly until it is freed from the eye 54. As this is down, the inclined cam edge engages the inner edge of the tail 53 whereupon the drawer is pushed slightly open so that release of the plunger will 10 not effect reengagement of the latch lug nose. in the eye 54. The plunger may now be released and the drawer pulled out so that its contents can be removed.

In order to prevent a second plunger from being 15 depressed until the first has been released, the following arrangement is used. Mounted on the frame ring 63 is a ring 93 which has at its outer periphery an upstanding flange 98. Formed in the bottom of this ring adjacent its outer pe- 20 riphery is a slot 95 wherein is slidably mounted a series of segmental bars 96 equal in number to the presser bars. The combined arcuate lengths of the bars 96 is less by the thickness of one presser bar than the full length of the slot 95. 25 For each presser bar the ring 93 is provided with a slot 9'! extending from its outer periphery inwardly and the meeting ends of the segments 96 register with these slots. These meeting ends have their top corners beveled off as at 98 (Fig. 3 8). The shoulder formed by the rabbet at the lower end of the presser bar normally lies above these meeting ends but, when the presser bar is depressed, this shoulder is forced in between two of the segments 96, thereby crowding the others 35 together so that they are held in contact and cannot be spread to permit depression of a second presser bar until the first is released. As will be seen from what follows, if a presser bar is depressed to effect unlatching of a drawer and 40 is then released, all bars will be locked against further effective depression until a further coin deposit takes place.

In the construction of the coin mechanism there is provided a carrier plate 99 extending vertically from the frame bottom 55 to the frame top 61 and securely fixed to these parts in a position slightly offset from the center of the mechanism housing. Extending through the upper end of the carrier plate is a slot 552. A coin receiv- 50 ing tube ID! has its upper end located on the side of the center of the mechanism housing oppo site that on which the carrier plate is located, and extends from above the housing top 42 in a reversely curved direction so that the under or 55 rear wall of this tube is brought into alinement with what may be termed the front face of the plate 99, meaning thereby the face more remote from the center of the mechanism housing. causes the coin tube to pass through the slot lflil 69 and below the bottom of the slot Hill the side and rear walls of this tube are cut away to leave only the front wall. One edge of this front wall E92 is secured by screws I93 to vertically spaced spacer blocks 194 fixed to the front side of the plate 99, 65 the other edge being left entirely free. In order to partly close the gaps between the spacer lugs 55M, and for other purposes presently to be d scribed, there is mounted on the rear face of the plate 99 a series of vertically spaced stop bars I95 each secured tothe plate 99 by a pair of screws 596 passing through a pair of slots Ill? extending longitudinally of the stop bar and thus transversely of the. plate 99. The vertical spacing of these stop bars equals the diameter of the coins 75 bar is yieldably held in normal position by a coiled V tension spring I I having one end connected to a.

pin III on the stop bar and its other end connected to a pin I I2 on the plate 99. When thus held, the lugs I98 are at one end of each of the slots I09 but may move outwardly of the coin path toward the other ends of said slots. Just below the plate 01 is a plate II3 which is provided with a central opening II4 for the accommodation of the coin tube'and other parts so that this plate may have vertical movement. A plunger latch bar I I5 has its upper end'secured to 7 this plate by a screw I I5 passing through a flange spective stop bars.

formed on the upper end of the bar. The shoulders formed at the bottoms of the portions of the plungers by the offset arrangement of the presser bars I5 rest on top of theperipheral portion of. the plate II3. ()bviously, so long as the bar II5 and plate II3 remain raised, the

'plungers cannot be depressed. The bar H5 is guided between clips I!!! secured to the plate 99 i by screws H9 and is held normally raised by a coiled tension spring I having one. end connected to a pin I2I carried by said bar while its other end is'conneotedto a pin I22 carried by the plate 99. One edge of the bar liesi adjacent the stop bars H35 and this edge is provided with notches I23 abruptly shouldered at their upper ends and receiving the adjacent ends of the re-" The lengths and arrangement of these notches are such that the plunger latch bar IE5 may be depressed for a distance corresponding to the distance between the presser bar' 55 and the latch bar 84' This is so because, as will be presently understood, initial movement of the bar II5 effects the first movement to release coins held in the coin passage. edge of the plate I02 (see Fig. 9) i is positioned a coin release bar I24 which is secured to the plate 38 by a screw I25 passing through a slot I26 formed in an extension or lug I21 projecting from the outer edge of the bar. ably in its outer position by a pair of coiled tension springs I28 arranged at equal distances above and below the slot I26 and each having one end connected to a pin I29 on thebar and its other end connected to a pin I30 onthe plate 99. The outer edge of this bar rests against actuating pins I3I f xed to the plunger latchbar H5 and extending through verticalslots I32 formed in the plate 99. The bar I24 has its outer edge provided with V shaped lugs or cams I33 which normally lie just below the pins I3I.

. While provision is' made for rendering certain of the stop bars inactive, as will be presently explained, we may consider for the present that all of the stop bars are active and thata number of coins have been droppedin the coin tube equal in number to "the stop bars so that each coin "is engaged on one side by a lug I08 and on its other side by the coin release bar I24." Now a plunger may be, depressed'whereupon, during the initial part of its movement, the plate II3 will move time, the upper ends of notchesare alined with r the upper edges of the stop bars so that slight Beneath the tree The bar is held yieldfurther depression of the plunger brings unnotched parts of the bar I I5 opposite the ends of the stop bar. As the pins I 3| move over the high spots of the cams the coin release bar moves outwardly, but the lugs I08 do not now move with 5 the bar since the stop bars bear against unnotched parts of the plunger latch bar. Thus the plunger canmove freely downward and at the same time the coin release bar moves outwardly so that the coins are free to drop out of the lower end of the 10 chute into the tray 25. The following mechanism is provided to close the lower end of the coin passage or chute against the passage of coins to the money drawer prematurely. The coin chute proper terminates l5" slightly above the plate 55 which has an opening I34 and a cut off plate I35 normally lies in the space between the coin chute and plate 55. The plate I35 is held on'the plate 55'for rectilinear movement by screws I36 passing through alined 20,

slots I3"! formed in said plate I35 and is yieldably' held in chute closing position by a coiled tension spring I38 having one end connected to a pin I39 on the plate I35 and its other end connected to a pin I on the plate 55. is rabbeted at its lower end to provide a beveled shoulder I4I which normally lies above an edge portion of the plate I35 (Fig.lO) in such position that the beveled shoulder will, when the bar is pushed down, engage the plate I35 and pushit 30,;

to open position, the body of the bar holding the out off plate open during further downward movement of the plunger latch bar. The beveled nonlder I4I is normally spaced above the plate E35 so that the coins in the chute may be properly 35 gripped by the coin release bar I24 prior to the out off plate moving to open position.

As previously stated, the device may be adjusted to selectively lock out any desired number of stop bars I05 and thus to permit the operation 45 formed in' the housing top 42, the plates 61, H3 50.

and the housing bottom 35 to permit these 7 7 an bars to be inserted in the apparatus and project through the mechanism housing into the drawer 24. A bar I48 crosses the upperppart of the drawer'and engages in a notch .IIB-formed in the 55 7 setting bar to loclgthe bar against removal upon .the drawer being'closed/The heads I41 bear suitable indicia I50 to indicate the value of the coins to'be inserted. Inone'of these bars the oiiset middle part is omitted and the others have 0-" the lengths of these offset middle parts graduated. V The stop bars I05 have pins I5I projectingrfromthe ends opposite thoseends which engage in the notches I23 and these pins lie' against theouter edge of the bar I42; Obviously, if a barhaving 5 an offset middle'part -be inserted, the stop'bars having pins engaged thereby will be moved out of engagement with the notches and only those stop bars whose pins engage the edge I45 will be active. These setting bars have alfurther func- I 7 tion.

Mounted centrally of theiplate 51 meansioi a screw I52 is aleverqlfiiitoone end of which is 7 connected by a screw I5 a lock bar I55'held to the plate 5,! ,by a screw I56. passing through a I The plunger latch bar 25.

slot I51 so arranged that a nose I58 on said bar may be protracted and retracted through a slot I 59 in the casing wall to enter and be withdrawn from the channel formed by the bead 49. A screw I60 connects the other end of the lever I53 to a slide bar I6I held to the plate 61 by a screw I62 passing through a slot I63. The setting bar I42 rests against the side of the slide bar and the latter is provided with a lug I54 which is engaged by the outer edge of this bar I42 and holds the bar I M in position to cause protraction of the nose I58. A coiled tension spring I65 has one end connected to a pin I66 on the bar I55 and its other end connected to a pin I61 on the plate 61. This spring urges the nose I58 to retracted position so that, upon withdrawal of the bar I42, the

nose automatically retracts and leaves the band i 41 in condition for removal as the first step in disassembling the machine when desired or necessary.

Provision is also made to render all of the stop bars inactive upon the money drawer being pulled out and, for this purpose, there is provided a camming bar I58 which extends vertically of the mechanism housing and projects downwardly through suitable openings in the bottom 35 and plate 55 to extend into the coin tray 25. This bar 68 lies fiat against the stop bars I and is there held by means of certain of the clips I I8. One edge of the bar is provided with a series of notches I63 and each stop bar is provided with a pin I10 normally resting in a respective notch. The shape of these notches is such that they each have an abrupt shoulder above the respective pin and an inclined cam edge normally below such pin. By this means downward movement of the bar I 68 is limited and upward movement of the bar IE8 moves all of the stop bars out of engagement with the notches I23. The rear or inner endv of the coin tray 25 has an inclined floor and when the coin drawer is pulled out, this floor engages the lower end of the bar I68 and moves it upwardly, thus effecting release of the stop bars, as above noted. The release of these stop bars permits free operation of the plungers to unlatch the commodity drawers so that these may then be opened for filling the machine or removing the goods therefrom. Obviously, since the money drawer is normally locked, this can only be done by a person having a key to the money drawer.

In order to better guide the coins into the coin tray 25 an auxiliary coin chute I1I may be arranged below the opening I34 to receive coins therefrom and to deliver them to the coin tray.

In order to prevent the use of coins of less diameter than those for which the machine is designed, the inclined rear wall of the upper part of the coin chute lllI is provided with a slot I12 of such width that coins of proper size will pass thereover, while smaller coins will drop through the slot, a vertical chute I13 is arranged below the slot I12 and extends downwardly to registering openings I14 in the plate 55 and bottom 35. Below these openings is an inclined chute I 15 which leads out of the machine at its lower part. By this arrangement, small coins drop through the slot I12, pass through the chutes I13 and I15 and out of the machine.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 12 and 13, the arrangement of the machine is rectangular instead of circular, but the internal arrangements are substantially the same except, of course, that the plate I i3 is replaced by a rectangular plate or grid and that the latches for the commodity drawers are alined with the respective plungers and the tongues corresponding to the tongue 54 of the circular form are of proper lengths for the operation of such latches.

The operations of the various special mechanisms having been previously explained, it is be- 5 lieved not necessary again to give a detailed exrespond to-the number of coins to be inserted in accordance'with the price at which the goods are 15 to be sold. Thus, if the goods are to be sold for fifteen cents and the coin chute is arranged to hold five five-cent pieces when fully loaded, a setting bar operating to withdraw the upper two stop bars from the notches I23 will be selected, leaving the lower three stop bars active. This setting bar is inserted and the money drawer, which has been at least partly open, is pushed shut to lock the setting bar against removal and the money drawer is locked. The machine is now 25 ready for the sale of goods.

When it is desired to buy any of the goods, they maybe observed through the glass plate 45. The purchaser drops the requisite number of coins down the coin chute where they are brought to rest in edgewise superposed position by the cut off slide I at the bottom of the coin chute. He now pushes down on the plunger opposite the commodity compartment selected. The initial movement of this plunger locks the remaining 35 plungers from being pushed down'and at the same time operates the bar I24 to effect movement of the stop bars I05 out of the notches I23, thus permitting further movement downwardly of the plunger. This part of the movement of the 40 plunger releases the presser bar I24 so that the coins are not gripped thereby, causes the cut off slide I35 to be moved to open position and unlatches the selected commodity drawer and starts it outwardly. The coins will thus drop into the money drawer and the commodity drawer will be pulled out manually. The plunger may be released at any time after the commodity drawer is unlatched, whereupon the parts will be restored to normal position and no plunger can be effec- 5O tively pushed down until more coins are dropped in the coin tube.

To refill empty drawers or change the commodities for sale, the money drawer is unlocked and drawn out until the camming bar I68 is raised to release all stop bars I05 from the notches I23, whereupon all the plungers'are free to be pushed down one after the other to unlatch the commodity drawers successively so that they may all be opened. When the money drawer is pushed in, the camming bar drops, releases the stop bars and permits them to assume their normal positions in notches I23; Obviously, the setting bar maybe changed when the money drawer is open.

When, for any purpose, it is desired to have access to the mechanism in the housing, the money drawer is unlocked and drawn out so that the setting bar may be removed. With the removal of the setting bar the nose-I58 is retracted so that the ring 41 may be removed whereupon the cover plate 45 may be lifted off, the screws 4I removed and the top section of the mechanism housing lifted, with the entire mechanism, away from the rest of the device. Obviously, the community drawers must be opened to prevent interference with the latch lugs 88 before the mechanism can be lifted.

I claim j r V v 1. In a vending machine having a series of compartments and closures therefor, a series of closure latches, plungers each associated with a latch to move the latch to unlocking position, plunger release means normally holding all said plungers against latch releasing movement, said release meansbeing movable with said plungers as the latter are moved, a stop member engaging said release means to prevent, latch releasing movement of the plungers, and coin controlled means for withdrawing said stop member from said release means.

. 2. Ina vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute, a release bar extending parallel to the chute and guided for longitudinal movement, said bar having a stop notch in the edge adjacent the chute, a stop bar mounted to move transversely of the'release bar to engage in and disengage from the notch,.a lug on the stop bar extending into the chute at the side remote from the release bar, spring means normally holding the stop bar in engagement in said notch, a presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coin to :be used in the machine, said presser bar being mounted for movement toward and from ment, said bar having a-stop notch in the edge adjacent the chute, a stop bar mounted to move transversely of the release bar to engage in and disengage from the notch, a lug on the stop bar extending into the chute at the'side remote from the release bar, spring means normally holding the stop bar in engagement in said notch, a

presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lugat a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coin to be used in the machine, said presser barbeing mounted for movement toward and from said lug, manually operable means for effecting operation of said presser bar, a springheld cut-off normally closing the lower end of said chute, and means on the release bar engageable with the cut-off and moving the latter .to open the chute upon movement of the release bar.

4. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute, a release bar extending parallel to the chute and guided for longitudinal movement, said bar having a stop-notch in the edge adjacent the chute, a stop bar mounted to move'transversely of the release bar to engage in and disengage from'the notch, a lug on the stop bar extending into the chute at the side remote from the release bar, spring means normally holding the stop bar in engagement in said notch, a presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coini'to be 'used'in the machine, said presser bar being mounted for movement toward andfrom said lug manually operable means for efiecting operation of said presser bar, a camming stop bar from "the notch upon movement and 'normallypositioned'topermit engagement of the stop bar in the notch, a money drawer movable between open and closed positions, means in the ,engageable with the cut off and moving the latmoney drawer engaging the camining bar and moving 'it from normal position upon opening movement of said money drawer, means for sup porting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to release the supported coin upon actuation of said presser bar. 7

a presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coin to be used in the machine,

said presser bar being mounted for movement 20 toward and from" said lug, manually operable means for efiecting operation of said presser bar, a spring held out off normally closing the lower end of said chute, means on the release bar ter to open the chute upon movement of the release bar, a camming'bar engageable with the, stop bar to withdraw the stop bar from the notch upon movement and normally positioned to permit engagement of the stop bar in the notch, a

money drawer movable between open and closed positions, and means in the money drawer engaging the camming bar and moving it from normal position upon opening movement of said money drawer. r

6. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute, a release bar extending parallel to the chute and guided for longitudinal movement, said bar having a stop notch in the edge adjacent the chute, a stop bar mounted to move transversely of the release bar to engage in and disengage from the notch, a' lug on the stop bar extending into the chute at the side remote from the release bar, spring means normally holding the stop barin engagement in said notch, a'presserbar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance'than the diameter of a coin to be used in the machine, said presser bar being mounted for movement toward and from said lug, spring means urging said presser bar away from the lug, pins projecting from the release 'bar, cam'means on the presser bar wherewith said pins' engage and arranged to force-the bar toward the lug during initial movement of the presser bar and to per- 'mit movement of the presser bar away from the lug during further movement of the presser bar, plunger means operable to move said presser bar,

7 means for supporting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to release the supported coin upon actuationof saldpresser bar extending into the chute at the side remote from the release bar, spring means normally holding the stop bar in engagement in said notch a presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coin to be used in the machine, Ii

2,020,893 said presser bar being mounted for movement end of said chute, and means on the release bar engageable with the cut-off and moving the latter to open the chute upon movement of the release bar.

8. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute, a release bar extending parallel to the chute and guided for longitudinal movement, said bar having a stop notch in the edge adjacent the chute, a stop bar mounted to move transversely of the release bar to engage and disengage from the notch, a lug on the stop oar extending into the chute at the side re mete from the release bar, spring means normal- By holding the stop bar in engagement in said notch, a presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coin to be used in the machine, said presser bar being mounted for movement toward and from said lug, spring means urging said presser bar away from the lug, pins ojecting from the release bar, cam means on e presser bar wherewith said pins engage and ranged to force the bar toward the lug during initial movement of the presser bar and to permit movement of the presser bar away from the lug during further movement of the presser bar,

plunger means operable to move said pressed bar, a camming bar engageable with the stop bar to withdraw the stop bar from the notch upon movement and normally positioned to permit engagement of the step bar in the notch, a money drawer movable between open and closed positions, means in the money drawer engaging the camming bar and moving it from normal position upon opening movement of said money drawer, means for supporting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to .release the supported coin upon actuation of sa'd press-er bar.

9. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute, a release bar extending parallel to the chute and guided for longitudinal movement, said bar having a stop notch in the edge adjacent the chute, a stop bar mounted to move transversely of the release bar to engage in and disengage from the notch, a lug on the stop bar extending into the chute at the side remote from the release bar, spring means normally holding the stop bar in engagement in said notch, a presser bar opposite said lug and spaced from the lug at a slightly greater distance than the diameter of a coin to be used in the machine, said presser bar being mounted for movement toward and from said lug, spring means urging said presser bar away from the lug, pins projecting from the release bar, cam means on the presser bar wherewith said pins engage and arranged to force the bar toward the lug during initial movement of the presser bar and to permit movement of the presser bar away from the lug during further movement of the presser bar, plunger means operable to move said presser bar, a spring-held cut-ofi normally closing the lower end of said chute, means on the release bar engageable with the cut-off and moving the latter to open the chute upon movement of the release bar, a camming bar engageable with the stop bar to withdraw the stop bar from the notch upon movement and normally positioned 5 to permit engagement of they stop bar in the notch, a money drawer movable between open and closed positions, and means in the money drawer engaging the camming bar and moving it from normal position upon opening movement 10 of said money drawer. 10. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute having a series of spaced lugs at one side and a presser bar at its other side mounted to move toward and from said lugs, 15 stop bars mounted to move transversely of the chute and each carrying one of said lugs, spring means urging said presser bar away from the lugs, other spring means urging said lugs toward said stop bar, said lugs and stop bar being spacedzo to permit a series of like coins to be held in the chute with each coin loosely positioned between a respective lug and the presser bar, manually operable means to move the presser bar inwardly to cause the coins to move the stop bars and 25 then to permit its outward movement to free said coins from the lugs, means for supporting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to release the supported coin upon actuation of said presser bar. 30

11.=In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute having a series of spaced lugs at one side and a presser bar at its other side mounted to move toward and from said lugs,

stop bars mounted to move transversely of the chute and each carrying one of said lugs, spring means urging said presser bar away from the lugs, other spring means urging said lugs toward said stop bar, said lugs and stop bar being spaced to permit a series of like coins to be held 40 in the chute with each coin loosely positioned between a respective lug and the presser bar, manually operable means to move the presser bar inwardly to cause the coins to move the stop bar and then to permit its outward movement 45 to free said coins from the lugs, setting means for engaging a selected number of the stop bars and moving them to inoperative positions, means for supporting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to release the I supported coin upon actuation of said presser bar.

12. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute having a series of spaced lugs at one side and a presser bar at its other side mounted to move toward and from said lugs, stop bars mounted to move transversely of the chute and each carrying one of said lugs, spring means urging said presser bar away from the lugs, other spring means urging said lugs toward said stop bar, said lugs and stop bar being spaced to permit a series of like coins to be held in the chute with each coin loosely positioned between a respective lug and the presser bar, a release bar having notches in one edge into which 5 said stop bars may enter, said notches being of sufficient length to permit initial movement of the release bar with the stop bars engaged in the notches, said stop bars being withdrawn from the notches upon movement by the coins held between the lugs and presser bar, cooperating cam means on the release bar and presser bar for moving said presser bar toward the lugs and permitting its movement away from the lugs during initial movement of the presser bar, manual- 1y o erable planter mea s fo mo n d res er bar, means torsuporting a coin in position between said lug and'presser bar, and means to release the, supported coin upon actuation of said presser bar 13. In a vending machine, a coin control including coin chute having a series of spaced lugs at one side and a presser bar at its other side mounted to move toward and irom said lugs,

stop bars mounted to move transversely of the chute and each carrying one of said lugs, spring lease bar with the stop bars engaged in the' notches, said stop bars-being withdrawn from the notches upon movement of the coins held between the lugs and presser bar, cooperating cam means on the release bar' and presser bar for moving said presser bar toward the lugs and permitting its movement away from the lugs during initial movement of the presser bar, manually operable plunger means for moving said presser bar, setting means for engaging a selected number of the stop bars and moving them to inoperative positions, means for supporting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to release the supported coin upon actuation of said presser bar.

14. In a vending machine, a coin control including a coin chute having a series of spaced lugs at one side and a p-r'esser bar at its other side mounted to move toward and from said lugs, stop bars mounted to move transversely of the chute and each carrying one of said lugs, spring means 'urging said presser bar away from the lugs, other spring means urging said lugs toward said stop bar, said lugs and stop bar being spaced topermit a series of like coins to be held in the chute with each coin loosely positioned between a respecmovement of the'coins held between the lugs and f presser bar, cooperating cam means on the release bar and presser bar for moving said presser bar toward the lugs and permitting its movement away from the lugs during initial movement of the presser bar, manually operable plunger means for moving said presser bar, setting means for engaging a selected number of the stop bars and moving them to inoperative positions, a money drawer movable to open and close, cooperating elements on the setting means and money drawer, locking the setting means in position upon closing of the money drawer, means for supporting a coin in position between said lug and presser bar, and means to release the. supported coin upon actuation of said presser bar.

15. In a vending machine, 'a series of successively assemblable elements including a locking collar forming the last element of the assembly, a latch holding said collar against removal and movable to release the collar, removable stop means restraining said latch from release movement, a money drawer movable between open and closed positions, and cooperating means on the stop means and money drawer holding the stop means against removal upon closing of said drawer. V

' LUDWIG KEGEL. 

